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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988

THE BALANCE OF $318.2

MILLION, BRING NET

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION, WAS APPROVED FOR THE EARLY REPAYMENT IN FULL OF THE FOUR OUTSTANDING ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOANS, HE SAID.

APPROVED NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS WERE INCREASED BY $325.6 MILLION DURING THE PERIOD, AND NEW NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENTS OF $810.6 MILLION WERE ALSO APPROVED.

MR JACOBS SAID THAT IN THE SAME PERIOD A NET INCREASE OF 1,623 POSTS WAS APPROVED.

ITEMS IN THE SUMMARY HAD BEEN APPROVED EITHER BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OR UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY, HE ADDED.

PRIVATISATION OF ABATTOIRS UNDER STUDY

THE ONLY

PUBLIC SERVICE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PRIVATISATION IS THAT RELATING TO THE RUNNING OF ABATTOIRS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG, MR JACOBS SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING THIS SERVICE FROM THE URBAN COUNCIL TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITH THE URBAN COUNCIL RETAINING ITS PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES, WAS BEING EXAMINED.

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